Clean Air Law and Your Small Business: Know How to Stay within the Regulatory Li

Posted by kimporter on May 23rd, 2014

Clean Air Act has been amended several times and the last amendment was passed in 1990. Businesses of all sizes need to comply with the requirements of the Clean Air law, failing which would result in legal actions taken against your business. If you own a small or mid-size business, you need to be fully aware if the implications of the new law and other EPA guidelines. Knowing whether your business is fully compliant in nature and whether you are staying within the regulatory limits would certainly help you in avoiding legal consequences. It is imperative for you to consult an environmental lawyer to know if there are any chances of facing legal actions.  

What makes your business non-compliant?

There are more than one ways you business could get affected by the environmental regulations, chiefly by the Clean Air Act 1990. If your business falls in one of the following categories, you need to plan your next move to prevent getting blacklisted by the regulatory agencies.

• If your business gives off nitrogen oxides and vaporific organic compounds in an area where ‘smog’ or ground-level ozone has already crossed the acceptable limit
• If your business distributes/sells heating oil, gasoline, and other types of petro products
• If you are in repairing and servicing motorcars or you run a fleet of 10 or more vehicles in a densely populated area
• If you are in painting/coating metallic surfaces or de-greasing of industrial appliances
• If your business transports hazardous chemicals or explosives
• If you repair or service refrigerators, air-conditioning systems or use these appliances for production of other goods

To know whether or not your business violates the Clean Air law, you should discuss about the guidelines for small and mid-sized businesses with an experienced attorney to avoid penalties. Note that these regulations are meant for reducing the air and water pollution and all the regulatory agencies take a zero-tolerance stance to people and organizations that violate the laws. You may have to obtain operational permits and may have to change your operational model for staying within the legal limits. It is, therefore, important for you to choose an attorney at the earliest.  

Services of environmental attorneys at a glance

There are environmental attorneys that help businesses primarily in staying within the legal limits. They take the corners of their clients in EPA and court hearings. These lawyers assist businesses in writing applications for exemptions and waivers from federal opacity limits. They can perform a compliance assessment of your business and educate your staffs about the importance of complying with the clean air act. Choosing an environmental lawyer is the first step towards tackling the challenges that the Clean Air Act amendment poses for small businesses. With the assistance of the lawyers, you can conduct emission monitoring and other necessary checks.

Whether the Clean Air Act is good or evil for small businesses or American economy as a whole is a matter of subjective discussion. For now, small business owners need to know how to comply with the Clean Air law and you need to seek assistance for that matter.

Willing to get more information on Clean Air law and EPA guidelines? Justin A Savage, the renowned environmental lawyer is ready to help you in this regard. Visit website to know more.